This page covers the standardized guidelines and procedures on board the SEV Torch. Note that these are not laws, and the Commanding Officer may alter them as they see fit. Make sure to look at Alert Procedure for guidelines that change based on the alert level.

Secure and High Security Areas

High Security Areas: Critical areas, and areas with special procedures.

Vault: Bolted at all times unless the Commanding Officer or Executive Officer request access.

Emergency Armory: Only CO, XO, and Senior Enlisted Advisor have access normally. All heads are authorized to access emergency armory during Code Red or above. Shutters are to remain secured unless the crew is being armed. When arming personnel, priority should be given to trained members of the crew, then untrained members of the crew, any trained NanoTrasen personnel, trained passengers, and off-duty personnel. Untrained passengers, NanoTrasen personnel, and unregistered visitors should not be armed except in dire circumstances.

AI Core and Upload: Only CO, XO, and Chief Engineer have access normally. Bolted on Code Blue or above. Individual access to upload no longer permitted on Code Red or above, access must be done with at least two Line Officers, or a Line Officer and a Master at Arms. Individual access to the AI Core is restricted in the same way.

Docking and Visitors

As an exploration vessel, the SEV Torch is encouraged to allow non-hostile visitors permission to dock, or otherwise come aboard during normal operating conditions. However, there are a variety of legal considerations to take into account when docking with another vessel. If an individual commits a crime aboard a SolGov vessel, and then flees to an unaligned vessel, habitat, or station, it is up to that organization to offer or reject a request for asylum. Similarly, SolGov officials may grant or deny asylum at their discretion. Visitors may be granted whatever access the CO deems appropriate, and otherwise can be granted default passenger access. Visitors may be assigned an escort or searched upon entrance to a SolGov vessel or facility at the Commanding Officer’s discretion, however at no times may crew enter a visitor’s vessel without permission, search a visitor’s vessel, or otherwise infringe on their sovereignty.

While all vessels in SolGov space must follow SolGov law, and SolGov law applies aboard all SolGov vessels, vessels outside of SCG territory are sovereign entities, and may enforce whatever laws and regulations they see fit aboard their own vessel. Any personnel aboard a docked vessel are under the legal authority of that vessel and may be legally fined, arrested, detained, and otherwise punished for infractions of the visitor's regulations. However, vessels belonging to organizations at war with the Sol Central Government, or vessels which attack a SolGov facility or ship are not protected by these regulations. Causing a diplomatic incident will not look good on the Commanding Officer or their crew. It is advised that the assigned Sol Central Government Representative initiates contact with visitors, and mediates any conflicts, legal or otherwise, between the SEV Torch and other spacecraft.

As a vessel of the SCG, the SEV Torch is required to render aid to vessels in distress, unless there is undue risk to the Torch in the event a vessel in distress docks. Duty to render aid includes providing medical aid, engineering assistance, or military protection from declared hostiles such as Vox or pirates. On higher alert statuses, docking may be restricted at the Commanding Officer's discretion.

Attached Vessels and Hangar Deck

The SEV Torch is equipped with multiple smaller spacecraft to assist with its mission, each designed and equipped for different tasks. Docked spacecraft fall under the authority of the Deck Officer, who is responsible for making sure all vessels are properly supplied, powered, and kept breathable. Pilots have authority over their respective craft while aboard them, but should keep the Deck Officer informed of ship movement. Individual spacecraft have their own regulations and access requirements.

SEV Aquila: The SEV Aquila is a light gunship meant for emergency use by SolGov personnel as needed by the CO. It should not be utilized without the express permission of the CO or acting CO. It is capable of atmospheric flight, and is equipped with two standard energy turrets.

Charon: The Charon is a multi-use shuttle provided for use by both NanoTrasen and SolGov personnel as needed. Primarily, it is intended for away missions for the purposes of research, salvage, and mining. It can be operated by NanoTrasen and SolGov pilots, but not by Deck Crew or other untrained personnel.

NSV Petrov: The Petrov is a mobile laboratory meant to allow the research of dangerous materials without endangering the Torch. It can only travel a short distance from the Torch, and is accessible by all NanoTrasen personnel. Its atmospheric and power generation capabilities are limited, and as such has a parasite utility connection with the Torch.

General Utility Pod: The GUP is a short range pod, with a small crew and cargo capacity. It can be accessed and used by NanoTrasen and SolGov personnel, including Deck Crew.

Navigation

The SEV Torch is capable of high acceleration while under way, during use of the engines to move the ship about a star system. This can be dangerous if the ship is maneuvered while its crew are unprepared, or not aboard. The following regulations and considerations must be met and made before changing the speed and direction of movement of the ship. Navigation procedures may be forgone under emergency circumstances in which the integrity of the ship is at risk.

The intent to carry out a maneuver must be announced before carrying out the maneuver, with adequate intervening time provided to meet the requirements of other navigation procedures.

Once intent to navigate is announced, all personnel must complete or abandon activities that do not comply with navigation procedures in good time.

Detached smaller spacecraft must be notified and recovered with their crews, unless they are to be collected at a later time.

Any persons carrying out EVA must be notified and recovered.

First Contact

As there is a high probability that the SEV Torch will be in a First Contact situation, the following guidelines have been created to smooth the process.

Hostility: First, and most importantly, determine if an undiscovered species or entity is hostile, or at least overtly hostile. This should be fairly easy to determine. Make every effort not to injure or kill a hostile entity, it may exacerbate the situation, whether or not the species is intelligent. Containment is the preferred course of action. If containment is successful, proceed with the next step. If containment is impossible, lethal force may be necessary, and can be authorized as needed by the CO.

Intelligence: Next, assuming the species is not overtly hostile, attempt to determine how intelligent they are. This can be determined through communication, mathematics, or even base understanding of chemistry.

Communication: Assuming intelligence, the next step should be communication. It is highly unlikely new species will speak or even understand common, or have any ability to translate, but it should be tried in any case. Basic pictograms, mathematical concepts such as prime numbers, or physical constants such as atomic makeup may prove more useful if vocal communication is impossible. A universal recorder may also be able to decipher unknown languages.

Diplomacy: If communication is established, and the new species has some form of government or hierarchy that diplomatic contact can be made with, make every effort to open diplomatic communication with this government, a process which should be spearheaded by the SCGR.

Medical Evaluation

The Chief Medical Officer, with the support of the vessel’s counselor, or other qualified medical personnel, may declare any crewman or passenger unfit for duty, and remove them from their position. In this duty, the CMO outranks everyone.
This regulation, unlike other non-legal regulations, cannot be overruled by the CO.

Weaponry

Those non-security personnel who are permitted to carry weaponry other than non-lethal flashes are assumed to be any personnel who have access to weapon(s) in their locker, or who have weapons on their person when they emerge from cryosleep. This includes, but is not limited to: Line Officers, the Senior Enlisted Advisor, and the NanoTrasen Security Guard.
Research personnel are permitted to construct, modify, and test weaponry within the Research Wing, and, with approval of the RD, may bring equipment along on away missions for the purposes of field testing.
The CO can authorize any crewman or passenger to carry lethal or nonlethal weapons at their discretion.

Away Missions

A joint exploration mission should be scheduled whenever possible. Any away mission without a ranking Officer or head of staff, the RD or CO is advised to designate a team leader, and schedule planned check-ins for safety purposes.

Expeditions

Away missions for the purpose of exploration must be a joint operation between available expeditionary and NanoTrasen personnel. This is, at minimum, at least one explorer and one researcher. Only the research director may prohibit any member of NanoTrasen staff from accompanying an exploratory away mission. In addition to the explorers, the commanding officer may assign other expeditionary or defense force personnel as needed.

A senior member of each team should be present to lead their respective groups and guide cooperation(preferably a Pathfinder and Senior Researcher). If necessary, security may be provided by either defense force or corporate personnel, but defense force personnel should be preferred if extreme danger is expected.

Unless the ship is currently under Red Alert, or preparing for a bluespace jump, the expedition should continue as normal.

Mining Missions

Away missions for the purposes of salvage or resource collection (including anomaly and xenoartifact recovery) are the responsibility of the NanoTrasen personnel aboard. Sol personnel may only accompany mining missions with the approval of the research director and their head of staff.

Other Missions

Missions not for exploration or resource collection may be authorized by the commanding officer as needed and individually designed for their specific cases.

Controlled Substances/Items

Controlled substances are any substances that have been restricted or made illegal by the Sol Central Government. The current list of controlled substances is as follows:

Concentrated extract of Ambrosia Vulgaris or Deus, colloquially “Space Drugs.” Note that this does not include the recreational use of Ambrosia while off duty, only the use of its concentrated extract.

Synaptizine, Hyperzine, Oxycodone, and Chloral Hydrate when not used in a medical capacity.

"Loyalty" Implants, or any other technology designed to alter behavior involuntarily to produce obedience.

Controlled Items are items that have been restricted or made illegal by the Sol Central Government. The current list of controlled items is as follows:

Biological or Chemical Weapons, such as engineered viruses. Phoron gas is considered a chemical weapon when used offensively.

Military Explosives when not in use by the Military, another authorized department of the Sol Central Government, or an otherwise authorized entity such as colonial governments. Note that constructive explosives, such as any charges used for mining are not subject to this restriction. Phoron-based explosives are considered military weapons.

Automatic Weapons when not in use by the Military, another authorized department of the Sol Central Government, or and otherwise authorized entity. This means any weapon capable of firing multiple shots when the trigger is depressed once, energy or otherwise.

Any cloning technology designed to rapidly grow an adult clone with fully-developed mental faculties.

NanoTrasen security forces are considered an "authorized entity" with respect to the above clauses.

Research Operations

NanoTrasen employees are permitted to use their lab spaces as they see fit with the following exceptions:

Any human experimentation must be done with the consent of the test subject, and must not have an undue risk of life as determined by the Research Director. The CO may terminate any experiment for safety or ethical purposes at their discretion.

Self-Experimentation is prohibited.

Testing of any explosives larger than grenades, or with risk of penetrating the hull must be done at an away site.

Small arms and larger weapons must also be tested at an away site if there is risk to the hull.

Distribution of experimental technology to research personnel for testing is permitted within research areas or at away sites.

Use of experimental technology in public areas must be authorized on a case-by-case basis by the CO or XO.

Experimental technology may be provided to crew departments for testing and use with the approval of the relevant department head.

Xenobiological organisms, anomalous entities, and xenoarchaeological finds must remain secured within research areas unless authorized by the CO.

NanoTrasen employees are not subject to laws regarding Controlled Substances or Items while using said items in the course of research.